Starz Announce January Premiere Date for Black Sails

Now that Spartacus has come to an end, few people have any reason to watch Starz anymore. That era seems like it might be ending with Black Sails, a new pirate series which Starz has just now given a January 25th premiere date, and said it will run for a rather short eight episodes. I prefer shorter seasons to longer ones, and I’ll take a tight, well done 8-12 series over a 22 episode network show any time.

Haven’t heard much about Black Sails? I’ll let Starz explain:

“Captain Flint (Toby Stephens), the most brilliant and most feared pirate captain of his day, takes on a fast-talking young addition to his crew who goes by the name John Silver (Luke Arnold). Threatened with extinction on all sides, they fight for the survival of New Providence Island, the most notorious criminal haven of its day – a debauched paradise teeming with pirates, prostitutes, thieves and fortune seekers, a place defined by both its enlightened ideals and its stunning brutality.

Toby Stephens (Die Another Day) is joined by Zach McGowan (“Shameless”) as rival Captain Charles Vane; Hannah New (Maleficent) as Eleanor Guthrie, a determined young woman who runs the smuggling operation on New Providence and Jessica Parker Kennedy (“The Secret Circle,” 50/50, In Time) as Max, a tortured young prostitute who sees the dark side of New Providence.”

It’s not exactly a ton of recognizable names, but there will be at least a few recognizable faces. But big names don’t mean a good show, as Spartacus did great things with an almost completely unknown cast. If production can match its predecessor, this could be a hell of a ride.